Banff bus service launched from Broch last week

A bus service from Fraserburgh to Banff was launched last week. Members of Fraserburgh’s Community Council were among those in attendance.

Fraserburgh and district councillor Charles Buchan joined Steve Walker, Stagecoach’s managing director, and Councillor Peter Argyl, Infrastructure Services Committee chairman, at the official ribbon cutting of the service last Wednesday.

Local councillor Brian Topping, who was not at the event, commented: “As the local councillor who successfully pushed for the service to be introduced originally many years ago, sadly the number of people using the service dropped and the service had to be withdrawn.

“I have raised it periodically since then because I think it is a vital link for people going further afield, including Elgin and Inverness, and local people have continued to raise it at the Banff and Buchan Area Bus Forum, the last three meetings of which I have chaired.

“I’m disappointed as someone who has successfully pushed for this that I will miss the launch of the service as I’m away to a national cross-party Safety Awareness and Prevention event at the Scottish Parliament.”

Service 272, as it will be called, made its first official journey on Monday, and has been funded by Aberdeenshire Council. Operated by Stagecoach Bluebird, the return service will run three times a day Monday to Friday via Strichen and New Pitsligo.